Gabby Douglas made history with her gold medal win at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. And though she can't make history in Sochi with some kind of cold-weather outdoor gymnastics routine (though how cool would that be?!), she wants to help other athletes get their names into the history books this month.

So as the Winter Olympics kick off this week, Douglas – who's partnered with Sony to promote its VAIO Flip PC – has some words of wisdom for the Winter Olympic athletes, as told to PEOPLE:

And her top pick as the Most Fascinating Person of 2012? Gen. David Petraeus, the decorated U.S. military hero and director disgraced by an affair that forced his resignation as director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

"My life has changed so much," says the bubbly former PEOPLE cover girl, who spent the morning before Thanksgiving chilling with her big sister, Arielle, 23, in her sweats and chatting with PEOPLE in her midtown Manhattan hotel. "It's been really fun."

Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas announced Thursday that she will write an "inspirational memoir," planned for December 2012 publication.

The book, to be titled Grace, Gold and Glory, My Leap of Faith, will chronicle the 16-year-old's early life, how she left her family in Virginia at age 12 to train 3,000 miles away and her path to gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Upon the announcement, Douglas said, "Even before I competed in the Olympics, I always wanted to write a book."

In 1996, gymnast Kerri Strug vaulted into history. The anchor for Team USA at the Atlanta Olympics, she competed on an injured ankle to help secure women's gymnastics their first-ever team gold medal – and Tuesday, she watched this year's 'Fab Five' win the second team gold.

The now marriedmom of one is a spokesperson for Hilton HHonors's Support the Dream program, which allows fans to connect with Olympians. "Since I know how much the support of the fans means to the athletes, it's great to be part of a program where fans can send good luck messages to Team USA," says Strug, 34. While at the Games with her husband, Robert Fischer III, the Olympic gold medalist is blogging for PEOPLE.com about her experiences in London.

Before we arrived in London, I was a little anxious thinking about the crowds and the logistics of getting across the city. It is always wonderful to see so many fans from around the world travel to cheer on athletes in the Olympic Games, but sometimes you worry about how all these fans will get to and from events safely.

Thankfully the fans have managed to make it to events with the help of the staff here in London. All over the city and at every event, we have found helpful, cheerful, and energetic staff helping the crowds.

Gymnastics royalty encountered the real thing on Sunday in London, as four of Team USA's female Olympic gymnasts – out of the so-called Fab Five – were starstruck by an unexpected chat with the Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate, 30, attending the beginning of the event finals at Greenwich Arena, is a huge supporter of Great Britain's athletes at these London Games – but was impressed enough by the gold-winning American team to approach and offer her congratulations.

"Just met princess Kate with @jordyn_wieber @kyla_ross96 & @gabrielledoug she is so beautiful & so nice! I told her I loved her style lol :)," Aly Raisman wrote on Twitter.